Cavs: The Podcast 0040 – Raab 2013

While the season my have started, no site-wide season preview is complete without an appearance by C:tB favorite Scott Raab.

Scott hopped on the line to chat about the offseason acquisitions, expectations for the non-rookies, this year’s draft picks, the return of Mike Brown, the looming Lebron contact, and projections for this NBA season. Scott also touches on both the Browns and the Indians, and speaks on the death of Lou Reed.

13 Responses to “Cavs: The Podcast 0040 – Raab 2013”

Sorry but why is Raab given airtime? That is literally the first time I’ve turned off a podcast by you guys as I just couldn’t bare to listen any longer.

He doesn’t seem to understand anything. His talking about the Browns not being able to develop talent is ridiculous. The last few years have seen very good player development (Haden, Ward, Taylor, Skrine looking way better than last year, Gordon, Mack etc). The problem (AS ALWAYS) has just been getting a QB. We have won all but one game (against a potentially superbowl challenging team) when playing with competent quarter backs and had we waived weeden mid-way through game 1 I think we’d lead the division.

As for his Cavs comments he is so biased and uninformed that I can’t se the point in having him on – particularly when Mallory doesn’t challenge him on anything. Neither seem to understand that most often the correct view is away from either extreme. Get him on with Nate, Kevin etc and one would think they would somewhat contain his ridiculously extreme views.

Calling Bennett a terribly pick after 3 games is ludicrous (even though I would rather have had Oladipo). Obviously he has talent he just needs to be coached – you know, like all players. Even LeBron required coaching – just look at the defensive monster he’s become. The offensive system is terrible at the moment because it isn’t a priority yet. The coaching staff have rightly realised that good defense will keep us in 95% of games this year and if we go anything close to .500 before the new year the offensive work will begin to see that winning percentage increase.

People like Scott need to remember that most of our players have had 2 or fewer years in the league. People like LeBron and Kyrie are exceptional talents that were clearly all stars from game one. Lots of other players are coached into greatness and work their tails off to do so (I bet Scott hadn’t heard of Paul George before last years playoffs). The reason I love Tristan is not because of how he is playing – but because he has the drive to constantly improve and become great. Another year of growth like this and he can easily be the third best player on a championship team.

I love Raab’s work in Esquire and The Whore of Akron healed my heart. His writing has an honesty to it that can only be achieved from a lifetime of penitent reflection. I wish he followed the Cavs more so that we could hear his informed opinion.

“As for his Cavs comments he is so biased and uninformed that I can’t se the point in having him on – particularly when Mallory doesn’t challenge him on anything”

This is Raab’s thing. He only goes on radio and podcasts that he knows with guys who are too scared to challenge him.

Grandma Raab, why are you posting under the pseudonym “Cory Hughes”? Who seriously was “healed” by his mindless ranting? His whole goal was to rile up the fanbase. And I wish he followed the Cavs, period. He doesn’t. He’s already determined he’s got it all figured out already and nothing can change his mind. I don’t get why he’s on the podcast either. He’s a terrible guest. He’s not interested in having a conversation, but to tell us dunderheads how we’re all idiots for not listening to him.

Great Pod though. I enjoy Raab immensely. Her’s so gloriously negative sometimes, but he pierces the veneer of sports fan self-delusion, which I enjoy. The conversation about Lou Reed and Elvis Costello was probably one of my all time favorite Cavs: the Podcast moments.

Sure Arch, not overrating our team is a nice thing. But Raab doesn’t bring fresh ideas or even the mindset to have a conversation. He comes up with one idea about a player, based on a cursory first impression, and thinks he could never possibly be wrong again with that one idea. He’s not negative because everyone else overrates the team, he’s negative because he’s a self-loathing jerk who can’t pay enough attention to do anything but start cursing and ranting about any little thing. He can’t see the big picture because he’s certain the last little thing that went wrong is the end of the world. That’s not a “nice perspective”, he’s delusional, and he hates everything but hearing the sound of his own voice.

Scott Raab does not have a lick of Basketball knowledge. He feeds off the constant crappiness of Cle sports teams., and “Only I have perspective” attitude of most bloggers. Why would you bring a guy on to your Cavs blog who clearly does not follow basketball closely?

Secondly, I dont know if Bennet is good, but to say he doesnt have talent is one of the most oblivious statements one can make. This idea that the fans are smarter than NBA front offices is just so asinine. They researched these players for months.

I’ll forgive Scott Raab for not following the day to day minutia of Cleveland Sports. I’ll even forgive him for not knowing that “not being in the lottery” means not being in the playoffs (unless there’s a trade out of the lottery, which allows for a bit of wiggle). The guy has interviewed a vast array of people: Lou Reed, Bill Murray, Robert Downey Jr… In the most recent issue of Esquire, he’s interviewing Doug Stanhope and embarking on a serious discussion: “Is the World Trade Center Safe?” The guy is a major, well known, professional writer who takes the time to be an “avuncular figure” to sportswriters, bloggers, and up-and-coming personalities who cover Northeast Ohio sports. He doesn’t have to do this, and he’s doing it for free. I, for one, get a giant charge out of the fact that he’s reading our stuff and giving his input and feedback. Thank You, Scott.

Furthermore, realize that he is projecting a persona, and realize he enjoys getting a reaction out of people. I get the feeling that he would much rather be hated than ignored. Having rowed in those waters before, I know what that’s like. Sometimes he is too caustic, and sometimes he is just straight up trolling. I enjoy his unfiltered mouth and his fallible humanity. It’s a rarity in an age where media is controlled and boring.

While I take his curmudgeonly negativity with a grain of salt, and certainly don’t agree with what he says all the time (he has been consistently wrong about Tristan Thompson, IMO), he’s interesting and he seems to elicit interesting conversation from interesting people. And seriously, the guy starts telling a story about Lou Reed and Elvis Costello and his experience dealing with them, and we want to complain about some occasional lack of situational knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the Cavs? Who else is going to tell a story that cool?

The Lineup: (Click for Author’s Archive)

Nate Smith is an Associate Editor. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to NE Ohio in 2000. He adopted the Cavs in 2003 and graduated from Kent State in 2009 with a BA in English. He can be contacted at oldseaminer@gmail.com or @oldseaminer on Twitter.

Tom Pestak is an Associate Editor. He's from the west side of Cleveland and lives and (mostly) dies by the success and (mostly) failures of his beloved teams. You can watch his fanaticism during Cavs games @tompestak.

Robert Attenweiler is a Staff Writer. Originally from OH, he's long made his home in NYC where he writes plays and screenplays (www.disgracedproductions.com) some of which end up being about Ohio, basketball or both. He has also written for The Classical and the blog Raising the Cadavalier. You can contact him at rattenweiler@gmail.com or @cadavalier.

Benjamin Werth is a Staff Writer. He was born in Cleveland and raised in Mentor, OH. He now lives in Germany where he is an opera singer and actor. He can be reached at blfwerth@gmail.com.

Cory Hughey is a Staff Writer. He grew up in Youngstown, the Gary, Indiana of Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown State in 2008 with a worthless telecommunications degree. He can be contacted at theleperfromwatts@yahoo.com or @coryhughey on Twitter.

David Wood is our Links Editor. He is a 2012 Graduate of Syracuse University with an English degree who loves bikes, beer, basketball, writing, and Rimbaud. He can be reached on Twitter: @nothingwood.

Mallory Factor is the voice of Cavs: The Podcast. By day Mallory works in fundraising and by night he runs a music business company. To see his music endeavors check out www.fivetracks.com. Hit him up at Malloryfactorii@gmail.com or @Malfii.

John Krolik is the Editor Emeritus of Cavs: The Blog. At present, he is pursuing a law degree at Tulane University. You can contact him at johnkrolik@gmail.com or @johnkrolik.

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